We all work to improve the patient, resident or client experience. In a moderated dynamic panel, we will hear from a patient, a lawyer with significant experience in healthcare related matters, and the Chair of the Erie St Clair LHIN Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC ) who is a Patient Advisor. Christine Elliott will draw on the panel’s remarks and her experience as the first Ontario Patient Ombudsman to highlight gaps and themes in the complaints received and resolved in 2017 and how her office is bringing the patient’s voice to the policy and decision makers’ table. This panel will illustrate the power of learning from various perspectives to actively promote improvement. We all have our stories, whether they are from our work place or our personal life. Bring them along to add to the dialogue as we collectively work to appreciate how we can provide leadership to strengthen patient/resident/client care.

Featured Speaker: Christine Elliott , Patient Ombudsman, Ontario

Christine Elliott is a graduate of Western University Law School and was called to the Ontario Bar in 1980. She practised law as a partner with Flaherty Dow Elliott & McCarthy until 2006, when she was elected as the MPP for Whitby-Ajax in a by-election. She was subsequently re-elected as the MPP for Whitby-Oshawa in 2007, 2011 and 2014. During her years at Queen’s Park Christine brought forward two private member’s bills, which resulted in Select Committees on Mental Health and Addictions and on Developmental Services. In December, 2015, Christine was appointed by the provincial government as the first Patient Ombudsman for the Province of Ontario.

Christine has been an advocate for vulnerable people for many years and has served as a volunteer with many community organizations, including the Grandview Children’s Centre and Durham Mental Health Services, which named one of their homes in her honour. She has also served on the board of directors of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Christine is the co-founder and a director of the Abilities Centre, a sports, recreation and arts facility for people of all abilities located in Whitby.

Christine lives in Whitby, Ontario with her three sons, John, Galen and Quinn.

MAINTENANCE OF CERTIFICATION Attendance at this program entitles certified Canadian College of Health Leaders members (CHE / Fellow) to 2.00 Category I credits toward their maintenance of certification requirement.